Chicagoland book clubs: Tabor Hills retirement community

In 2006 a group of readers retired seniors living in Naperville’s Tabor Hills Retirement Community formed a book club, selecting "Teacher Man," by Frank McCourt, for their initial book. Since then, the group has met monthly and discussed over more than forty 40 books. The groups maintains a list of these books, and will swap lists with other book clubs.

One thing to know about your book club: “We are a bunch of seniors, median age of 83?, who love to read and find our discussions both enjoyable and stimulating. Even when some books have received a lukewarm reception, we have always had rousing discussions. We may move to related topics, but rarely do we forget what we are there for: to discuss a book. The club keeps our minds fresh and open to new ideas. We like the diversity of our reading choices and the diversity of our opinions. No one is hesitant to speak up, and no one is ever intimidated by others. A major result is that we do not lose members. Absences occur only when people are ill or traveling.”

Authors we’d most like to meet: “Among our diverse opinions, these stand out: Pat Conroy, Ian McEwan, Sara Gruen, Sara Paretsky and Anna Quindlen. If we could meet with those not living, they would extend to Jane Austen, Frank McCourt and Tony Hillerman.”

What books are next: “We have chosen our titles through the end of the year. Since most of our members do not wish to add to already full bookcases, we rely heavily on the Naperville Public Library and its generous policy of ordering many books in large numbers. In November we will discuss Bill Bryson’s memoir, ‘The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid.’ For December we will read our annual Christmas story, this time ‘The Christmas Train,’ a novel by David Baldacci.”

Some books that we have liked and that have inspired good discussions: “The Devil in the White City,” by Erik Larson; “The Water is Wide,” by Pat Conroy; “Plain Truth,” by Jodi Picoult; “The Secret Life of Bees,” by Sue Monk Kidd; “Three Cups of Tea,” by Greg Mortenson; and “Nights in Rodanthe,” by Nicholas Sparks.